Aussies hit top form

EMERGING Gold Coast cricketers Xavier Bartlett and Max Bryant have found form ahead of Australia’s third and final group match today at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

After a lacklustre first-up loss to India, Australia bounced back on Wednesday by thrashing Zimbabwe by seven wickets.

Bartlett did a stellar job with the new ball, removing Zimbabwe’s top three batsmen to help skittle them for a measly total of 134. Bartlett finished with 3-20 from seven overs.

Bryant then set about making light work of the run chase, blitzing 44 off 27 balls including two sixes as Australia reached their target with 31.4 overs to spare.

They will today take on minnows Papua New Guinea at Lincoln.

Victory will all but certainly seal their place in the quarterfinals, where they will likely meet England.